Iran: Execution of juvenile offender denounced as ‘shameful act’

Alireza Tajiki, who was 21 years old, was sentenced to death at the age of 16 in April 2013 after a criminal court convicted him of murder and male rape. He had been arrested at the age of 15. His trial relied primarily on “confessions” which Mr Tajiki said were extracted through torture, including severe beatings, floggings, and suspension by his arms and feet.

Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director, said: “This shameful act marks a critical turning point for Iran, and exposes the hollowness of the authorities’ claims to have a genuine juvenile justice system.

“By going ahead with this execution in defiance of their obligations under international law, and despite huge public and international opposition, the Iranian authorities have again cruelly demonstrated their complete disdain for children’s rights.

“Alireza Tajiki is the fourth person executed in Iran this year who was arrested as a child. His execution, which was carried out despite his allegations that he was tortured into ‘confessing’, consolidates a horrendous pattern that has seen Iran repeatedly send people arrested as children to the gallows, often after deeply unfair trials.”

Following his arrest in May 2012, Mr Tajiki had been placed in solitary confinement for 15 days, without access to his family. He was denied access to a lawyer throughout the entire investigation process. He has said that during this period he was subjected to torture to “confess” to the crime. He later retracted the “confessions” both before the prosecution authorities and during his trial, and consistently maintained his innocence.

However, his “confession” was admitted as evidence during proceedings against him.

Meanwhile, both the original court and Iran’s Supreme Court relied on forensic opinions stating that Tajiki was “mature” at the age of 15 and therefore eligible to receive the death penalty.

Ahead of his execution, the authorities did not inform his legal representatives, contrary to Iran’s own laws which require lawyers to be informed of their clients’ scheduled execution at least 48 hours in advance.